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VIDEO: The Biggest Loser Finale Champion Michael Ventrella Talks About His Biggest Win

May 26 2010, Published 8:16 a.m. ET

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Chicago DJ Michael Ventrella discussed his triumph on The Biggest Loser on The Today Show Wednesday, as the once-526-pound man shed more than half of his body weight -- 264 pounds -- to capture the crown on the ninth edition of NBC's weight loss competition, and RadarOnline.com has the video for you.

Watch the video on RadarOnline.com

Ventrella, who now weighs 262 pounds, said his life has turned around from the despair his morbid obesity once caused.

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"At 526 pounds, nobody at that weight can ever feel any sense of hope," Ventrella told The Today Show Wednesday. "You feel like any day is your day, is your time: You're going to die. I realized, 'You know what? I'm going to give it everything I got to battle this and tackle this because I'm done with being like this.’"

Biggest Loser's Jillian Michaels Sued For Third Time Over Diet Pill

Runner-ups included Tennessee native Ashley Johnston who lost 183 pounds; Oklahoma State University student Daris George who lost 168 pounds; and California football coach Koli Palu, who lost 215 pounds.

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